Fertilizer-distributer.



.110. 757,020. PATENTED APR.12,1904.. J.. M. BUTLER. FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

wifge sses J lgaegfer.

drawings, is tilted or inclined in an upward Patented. April 12, 1904.

PATENT O FICE.

JAMES M. BUTLER, OF

BEENIoE, LOUISIANA.

FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,020, dated April 12, 1904.

- Application filed August 19, 1903.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES M. BUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bernice, in the parish of Union and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Fertilizer-Distributer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fertilizer-distributers; and it has for its object to provide a device of this class which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency.

With these and other ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.--

In the accompanying drawings there has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of embodiment of my invention, it being understood, however, that changes may be made as to the size, shape, and general manner of assemblage of the parts within the scope of my invention and without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the utility of the same.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fertilizer-distributer constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken through the lower ends of the side pieces of the hop per, showing the frame-bar, the wings or guard-plates, and related parts.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similar numerals of reference.

1 designates a box or hopper the sides of which, 2 2, are made to converge downwardly, said sides being also extended downwardly below the front and rear pieces 3 and 4: of said hopper, which latter, as clearly shown in-the or rearward direction. Between the lower ends of the side pieces 2 2 is introduced a frame-bar 5, which extends in front and in rear of the hopper, and between the said frame-bar and the sides of the hopper are inserted wings or guard-plates 6 6. To the outer sides of the side pieces 2 2 are attached 5 rearwardly-extending brackets and 8, the

Serial No. 170,080. (No model.)

latter of which has a shoulder or ofiset 9. Transverse bolts 10 10 are used to connect togetherthe side pieces 2, the brackets 7 and 8, the wings or guard-plates 6 6, and the central frame-bar 5, all of which are pierced by the said bolts and are thereby firmly connected.

The front and rear pieces 3 and 4 of the hopper terminate some distance above the frame-bar 5, and the opening 11 between the rear side pieces 4, and the frame-bar is closed by an interiorly-disposed flap 12, of leather or other suitable flexible material, which may be mounted on a transverse pin 13. The opening 14, existing between the front cross-piece 3 and the frame-bar 5, is adapted to be closed.

by an exteriorly-disposed slide 15, which is for the purpose of regulating the amount of fertilizing material permitted to escape through said opening.

The rear ends of the brackets"? and 8 form bearings for a shaft or axle'l6, carrying a transporting-wheel 17, which is accommodated in the shouldered portion of the bracket 8. The shaft 16, in addition to the supportingwheel 17, carries a pulley or band-wheel18, which in the construction. shown has been illustrated as being integral with the supporting-wheel. The lower end of the hopper is provided with a pair of forwardly-extending brackets 19, between which is journaled a roller or pulley 20, which is connected by means of a band 21 with the pulley 18, from which it receives motion, the upper lead of said band traveling'through the lower end of the hopper and the lower lead traveling below the frame-bar 5. This band when the machine is in operation serves to convey the fertilizing material from the hopper in a forward direction and finally depositing said material upon the ground. The said band may be provided with one or more carriers or flanges 22, which not only serve to agitate the fertilizing material and to assist in conveying it out of the hopper, but which also inameasure serve as clod-crushers.

The hopper 1 is encircled near its lower end by a band 23, the terminals of which form forwardly-extending brackets 24:, between which a beam 25 may be inserted for the attachment of the draft. Handles 26, which are suitably connected with said beam, are extended divergently in an upward direction and are connected by means of a rung 27, for the reception of which a hook 28 is provided upon the upper front side of the hopper. The hook member 28 has a pivoted catch 29 for the retention of the rung, and the hook itself is made of material possessing some degree'of resiliency, thereby enabling the said rung and the handles to be conveniently mounted or dismounted.

30 designates a furrow-opener of ordinary construction which is suitably connected with the beam.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed,

\ the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. When the machine is caused to travel over the ground, a furrow is formed by means of the furrowopening device 30, which obviously may be of any suitable construction. The wheel 17, traveling insaid furrows,serves to impart,through the pulleys 16 and 20, motion to the endless band 21, by means of which the contents of the hopper will be evenly distributed in the furrow, the quantity of fertilizing material thus delivered being regulated by means of the slide 15.

The operation of the device is extremely simple, and the machine being light and easily handled excellent results may be attained with slight expenditure of power.

The device, while simple in construction, will be found to be possessedof great strength and durability, enabling it to withstand rough handling.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a device of the class described, a hopper comprising front and rear sides, downwardly-converging side pieces extending below said front and rear sides, a frame-bar interposed between thelower ends of the side pieces below the lower ends of the front and rear pieces, guard-plates interposed between the latter and the frame-bar, and connectingbolts extending through the side pieces, the guard-plates and the frame-bar.

2. In a device of the class described, ahopper comprising front and rear sides, downwardly-converging side piecesextending below said front and rear sides, a frame-bar interposed between the lower endsof the side pieces below the lower ends of the front and rear pieces, guard-plates interposed between the latter and the frame-bar, rearwardly-extending brackets disposed exteriorly against the lower ends of the side pieces, and bolts extending transversely through and connecting said brackets, side pieces, guard-plates and frame-bar.

3. In a device of the class described, ahopper composed of front and rear pieces and side pieces converging downwardly and extending below said front and rear pieces, a frame-bar interposed between said side pieces below the lower ends of the front and rear pieces, brackets extending rearwardly from the hopper, one of said brackets having an offset, an axlejournaled in said brackets, a groundengagingwheel and a band-wheel mounted upon said axle, brackets extending forwardly from the hopper, a pulley journaled between said brackets, and an endless band connecting said pulley with the band-wheel upon the axle, the upper lead of said band traveling above the frame-bar and through the openings between the latter and the front and rear sides of the hopper.

4. In a device of the class described, a hopper having downwardly converging sides, rearwardly and forwardly extending brackets connected with said hopper, band-supporting means journaled in said brackets, an endless band, cups upon the latter, and means for imparting motion to said endless band.

5. In a device of the class described, a hopper having downwardlyconverging side pieces and front and rear pieces terminating above the lower ends of said side pieces, a frame-bar secured between said side pieces below the lower terminals of the front and rear pieces, a flexible flap connected interiorly with the rear side of the hopper, forming a closure, a slide connected exteriorly with the front side of the hopper and constituting a gage, an endless carrier mounted on the lower part of the hopper with its upper lead above the frame-bar, and operating means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' JAMES M. BUTLER.

Witnesses.

JOHN T. HEARD, W. W. BUTLER. 

